August 10, 2000

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 |                   THE WORLD SCANNER REPORT                     |
 |     A Journal of VHF-UHF Scanner Technology and Engineering    |
 |   COMMtronics Engineering; PO BOX 262478; San Diego, CA 92196  |
 |   Copyright (c) 1991-99                   |
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INTRODUCING THE WORLD SCANNER REPORT

The 'WORLD SCANNER REPORT' is a hard-hitting, tell-it-like-it-is, no
holds barred, monthly newsletter that started in January, 1991.  The
'WSR' runs 8 to 10 pages in a three-column format, laser printed, with
graphics and photos.  It's filled with the hottest, rarest, juiciest,
inside stuff about VHF-UHF scanner technology, engineering and
operation that you ever saw in your life! There is nothing like it!

The WORLD SCANNER REPORT was published and edited by Bill
Cheek, the author of the SCANNER MODIFICATION HANDBOOKs and the
ULTIMATE SCANNER. You may already own or heard about these
best-selling, do-it-yourself manuals on scanner mods, alterations,
trick-outs and soup-ups.  One objective of the 'WSR' is to supplement,
reinforce and update the material in his books and to take up where his
scanner books leave off. The SCANNER MODIFICATION HANDBOOKs and THE
ULTIMATE SCANNER are available from COMMtronics Engineering.

OTHER OBJECTIVES OF 'THE WORLD SCANNER REPORT'

To Promote And Encourage:
(1) Growth of the Scanning Hobby;
(2) Incorporation of the latest technology into scanners;
(3) Dissemination of tech knowledge/info about scanners;
(4) Accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness of radio communications;
(5) Pleasure and benefits of radio.

The predominant share of the WSR's material is about scanners and
scanning. Some attention may be given to Citizens Band, Amateur,
Shortwave, computers, and other areas, but scanners and scanning are 
what we're all about here.  We take our radioing very seriously, at 
a world class level, so to speak.  If you're serious about radio, 
you and I are stepping to the beat of the same drummer.

CONTENTS OF THE 'WORLD SCANNER REPORT'

The 'WSR' covers scanner technology and engineering, but not in overly
sophisticated technical lingo!  We talk a common everyday jargon that
can be grasped by radio hobbyists.  You do not have to be an engineer
or a tech to apply our info.  Some material comes from engineers,
technicians and serious hobbyists, but we edit, translate and present
that stuff in a form and on a level that is useful to most people with
basic education.  The SCANNER MODIFICATION HANDBOOKs are legendary
examples of Bill's ability to transfer knowledge and use of technology to
non-technical people.  Shortly after Vol 1 of the Scanner Modification 
Handbook was published, a fellow told Bil that he possessed only an 8th-
grade education and that he was able to successfully perform all the 
applicable modifications to his PRO-2004.  The 'WSR' follows in that 
tradition!

The 'WSR' offers guidelines, procedures and methods to extract the
ultimate in performance from VHF-UHF scanner receivers.  We focus on
the Realistic PRO-2004, -2005, -2006, and -43 scanners, because Bill knew 
them inside and out, and because these form a major chunk of the current 
scanner market.  We are not limited to the 'best sellers', however. 
ICOM, Uniden-Regency, AOR, Cobra and others get attention, too.

The 'WSR' gets into hacking and modifying scanners, but it also digs
into theory; operation; troubleshooting, problem diagnosis, alignment
and maintenance of scanner radios.  (If you're going to rip into
yours, you might as well know something about its circuitry and what
makes it tick, right?)  We explore all areas of scanning, scanners and
technology that can benefit the scannist.

So what turns you on?  Would conversion of a 400-channel scanner into
one with 25,600 channels do it?  How about a beautiful and functional
10-segment LED S-meter?  How about a simple circuit to make your
scanner automatically resume scanning or searching after it locks up
on a data channel?  Does your scanner go too slow?  We'll speed it up.
Is your DELAY function too short?  We'll lengthen it. 

The 'WSR' explores these and much more including automatic tape
recorder switches, center tuning meters and even computer interfaces
for scanners!  The sky's our limit and when we reach it, we'll just
set a new limit and break it, too!

The 'WSR' focuses on the hardware of scanning and max performance.
This includes microscopic attention on the innards of scanner
receivers and on the stuff that bolts on or hooks up to 'em including:
antennas, coax cables, connectors, preamps, converters, computers and
computer interfaces, grounding systems and power supplies.  The 'WSR'
daringly exploits other off-areas of scanning including surveillance
and electronic countermeasures, signal detectors, frequency counters,
volt/ohm meters and other types of electronic test equipment.  The
'WSR' can help you acquire, assemble, fine-tune, maintain and operate
a HIGH PERFORMANCE monitoring station!

BACKGROUND BEHIND THE WORLD SCANNER REPORT

Bill had 30+ years' experience in the engineering and technology of
radio: VLF to microwave voice and data comm, amateur, CB, Land Mobile,
coastal and shipboard radio; electronic surveillance and
countermeasures, radar, audio and hi-fi, satellite comm, research,
design, development and manufacturing.  He wasa former corporate CEO,
too. A piece of it all has came his way over time and he was eminently
qualified to steer some of it your way.  He's published other
newsletters similar to this one, so your editor was no green novice at
what we're doing here.  Bill's greatest interest was communications and
his focus was on radio with scanners at the top of the list.  He felt that
scanning offered a peephole into the heartbeat of the world.  The
'WORLD SCANNER REPORT' was born from a persistent nagging inside him to
write about what turned him on.  It turned him on to point a big ear into
the heart beat of: government, law enforcement, military, space,
business, commerce and politics: COMMUNICATIONS.  You too?

AN INVITATION TO JOIN WITH THE 'WSR'

Please see the Table of Contents for all issues of the 'WSR' to date,
so you can get a better idea of what we're all about. Also check out
the huge subject matter Index to the WSR so you can look up your favored
topics.  The filenames are:  

wsrtofc.txt      Table of Contents
wsrindex.txt     Keyword Index

Payment in US FUNDS; check or money order preferred; cash ok,
but risky. Canadian subscribers add 15% to the prices stated below.  
Other foreign prices are quoted on the subscription blank in an
accompanying file called ORDER.TXT

May-June and November-December are combined issues for a total 
of ten issues per year.

NOTE:  Back issues of the WSR to January 1991 (V1N1) are still 
available. Prices are listed below. 
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======================================================================
WORLD SCANNER REPORT - 10 issues/yr
WSR BACK ISSUE RATES & ORDER BLANK     INF:WWW-2000
           WSR BACK ISSUES ONLY        USA $$   Check Items
1991-8 (any one year, set)      10 ea  $30.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any two years, set)     20 ea  $50.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any three years, set)   30 ea  $65.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any four years, set)    40 ea  $75.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any five years, set)    50 ea  $84.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any six years, set)     60 ea  $92.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (any seven years, set)   70 ea  $99.00  ______________ *
1991-8 (an eight year set)      80 ea $105.00  ______________ *
1991 thru July '99 complete set 96ea  $135.00  ______________ *

    NOTE: $5 Shipping/Handling with any order.
      OR $10 Shipping/Handling for a full 96 issue set.

*  (Canada +15%; Other Foreign +50%)

============================================
Bill Cheek - President/CEO/Publisher
COMMtronics Engineering/World Scanner Report
Box 262478 ~ San Diego ~ CA ~ 92196-2478
============================================